head of xbox before phil spencer

Phil Spencer is executive vice president, Gaming at Microsoft. However, Microsoft is currently cooking up something interesting for customers, whether they enjoy using a console or like to stream. Microsoft is celebrating Earth Day with a new, environmentally-friendly Xbox controller. Turn 10 Studios developers, an accessibility consultant, and Xbox head Phil Spencer discuss the development process behind Blind Driving Assists, the importance of community involvement, and Xbox . Speaking with IGN, Turn 10 Studios developers, an accessibility consultant, and Xbox head Phil Spencer discuss the development process behind Blind Driving Assists, the importance of community involvement, and Xboxs desire to create an inclusive and accessible industry. It is being marketed as the worlds most powerful console, with speculation that it could end up being even more powerful than Sonys PlayStation 5. [7], With the launch of the Xbox in 2001, Spencer joined the Xbox team and served as general manager of Microsoft Game Studios EMEA, working with Microsoft's European developers and studios such as Lionhead Studios and Rare until 2008, when he became the general manager of Microsoft Studios, eventually becoming the studio's corporate vice president a year later. Please join if you can. Microsoft Head of Xbox Phil Spencer talks about how the Xbox One launch almost killed the Xbox brand. In fact its a milestone for our company, our business and our industry. Under his tenure, Microsoft has built up a stable of key franchises such as Halo, Gears of War, Fable and Forza. It wil retail for $85, which is significantly more than a standard Xbox controller. There have been reports of a second, significantly less-powerful machine that will omit a disc drive and be offered at a reduced price. According to a recent report from Bloomberg, Spencer emphasized Microsoft's dedication to finalizing the deal despite acknowledging the . I and the entire Gaming Leadership Team are deeply enthusiastic about this opportunity. What I showed them was how different audio cues could work together, and how they could also run over each other if done incorrectly, Cole said. On the surface, the system looked like it had a chance to compete with the PlayStation 4, which had been announced earlier that year, but rumors swirling about the Xbox One potentially requiring an online connection and limiting the sales of used games overshadowed news of the system itself. As part of Microsofts plan to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, the software giant has created a Microsoft Gaming division. The various flaws in these early models forced Microsoft to repair and replace countless systems, and eventually led to an extension of the consoles warranty to account for all of the issues. Blind/low vision accessibility is still relatively sparse in video games compared to other accessibility options and design practices. Together with Activision Blizzard, we believe we have an incredible opportunity to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet, and we will invest and innovate to create the best content, community and cloud for gamers. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. So it won't be long before mobile catches up to desktop in terms . Where the vehicle is, when and how to turn, and even how much cars should decelerate are just some examples of information that blind/low vision individuals can receive via audio cue with these features activated. Just two years later, Microsoft was ready to go public with its console, and thats exactly what Bill Gates did at theGame Developers Conference in 2000. Spencers new role officially, Head of Xbox sees him reporting directly to Myerson, who oversees the development teams on Microsofts operating systems (including Windows and Window Phone, in addition to Xbox). Gaming has been key to Microsoft from our earliest of days. Some of the best Xbox One games are first-party titles, but you'll find loads of other quality games from the likes of Electronic Arts, Bethesda, and Ubisoft that compose a huge library of games worth playing. As technologies advance and as more disabled individuals offer their skills to developers, the design practices and features that disabled people use will eliminate even more unintentional barriers. Popular game developer Electronic Arts took issue with the subscription-based structure of Xbox Live and opted out of releasing their popular Madden football games for the Xbox in 2003, only to cut a deal with Microsoft a year later. First is our leadership in cloud computing; second, the resources we have to build out the subscription value with Xbox Game Pass; and third is our overall focus on empowering creators. The Kinect arrived on shelves in November of that year. [7] Spencer lives in the Seattle area with his wife and two daughters. Windows Central is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RyanFlemingPDX More recently, if you couldnt spend hundreds of dollars on a game console, potentially thousands of dollars on a high-end PC, you simply couldnt participate in the global gaming community in a significant way. The now-former head of Microsoft Studios will consolidate and oversee the Xbox and Xbox Live creative teams, as well as Xbox . By the end of 2005, more than 1.5 million consoles had shipped, putting the system well on its way to becoming the new master of the console castle. His lived experiences as a disabled individual afford him the opportunity to provide insight that is not only beneficial for developers, but also the blind/low vision community itself. The people theyre making this game accessible for may have never played a racing game, or ever driven a car before. And that cost and those requirements have always severely limited who can play, where they can play and who they can play with. On May 12, 2005, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 360, the next generation of its gaming console. When I was a kid, it was crazy to think about having a Galaga machine or a Ms. Pac-man machine in your house. "In the long run, to me, it's a question about the viability of the television,". Spencer, who most recently served as the chief of Microsoft Studios, will now lead that. by Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox Jul 16, 2020 @ 6:30am. We start solving for one specific scenario, and then think about how we can extend that [solution] to many. The role that Spencer now occupies has been in flux ever since Don Mattrick left in 2013 to take over as CEO of Zynga. Posted: Mar 31, 2014 8:36 am. You can change the pitch of the audio cues, and the narrator customizations that we have are the best in any game that Ive seen.. Forza Motorsports new features are not the end of blind/low vision accessibility. All Rights Reserved, By submitting your email, you agree to our. Originally dubbed the DirectX Box, the console was intended to be the first game system built like a PC, bringing all of the flexibility and power of a gaming rig to the console market. It also introduced Xbox Game Pass, a program that gives subscribers unlimited access to a vault of older Xbox games, as well as day-one access to the latest releases. published 29 September 2016. The release of the Xbox 360 in the U.S. on November 22, 2005, and in Europe and Japan the following month, resulted in sellouts in nearly every market except Japan, where the system still struggled to find an audience. Not every racer needs the same accommodation, and the team wanted to ensure that everyone could find an appropriate range when using this setting. I ditched my game consoles and went cloud-only for a week. newsletter, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is already $10 off, I would die to protect Turgle in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Legos largest and most detailed X-Wing has landed for $239.99, Mortal Kombat 12 teaser appears to blow up the timeline, Amazon Primes freebies for May include Resident Evil 2 remake, Where to buy the Pokmon Go Plus Plus device. All eyes are on Microsoft on Tuesday, following the company's announcement that it's moving to acquire Activision Blizzard in a monumental $70 billion deal. We also announced this morning that we have surpassed 25 million Game Pass subscribers across console, cloud and PC, a great achievement for all of Team Xbox. Some of the coolest things Ive seen over the past year is how people have used Minecraft to create new worlds in order to maintain even a sense of community and belonging thats so important in times like these. Nadella: Thanks so much, Phil. With his team and game development partners, Spencer continues to push the boundaries of creativity, technical innovation and fun across gaming genres . The high cost of manufacturing the Xbox didnt do its creator any favors, making the next big event in the systems timeline even more surprising. Early adopters were treated to a multiplayer gaming experience that was entirely new to the console industry, pitting players against competitors from all around the world in a communal environment. And when I think about our new platform, Microsoft Mesh, which enables you to interact holographically with other people with a true presence in a very natural way, one of the most exciting applications, I think, will be gaming. Already, more and more people are creating something new and magical every day. The cloud will allow us to completely remove these barriers to play worldwide. Watch the latest video game trailers, and interviews from the biggest gaming conventions in the world. Microsoft aimed to incorporate a cloud gaming service with their existing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, starting September 2020. All Xbox One games with mouse and keyboard support, Xbox Game Pass new games: whats new and whats leaving in April 2023, The best Xbox One games to play right now. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced Spencer's promotion in a companywide email today. If ever there was a knockout punch at a press conference, this looked to be it. Its being used as the backend for more than 5,000 games, so a lot of exciting things that the cloud can enable. They need to consider what kinds of audio cues were used for each thing. The newest entry in the Forza Motorsport series (simply called Forza Motorsport) has already been revealed to include numerous accessibility options commonly found in most modern games like control remapping, subtitles, and varying colorblind modes and filters. Phil Spencer on the Meeting That Almost Ended the Xbox Division at Microsoft. Oops. A keyboard and mouse will give you better precision than your standard Xbox One controller so you can keep up in cross-platform games without shelling out money for a top gaming PC. I mean, for me, you just go to Xbox.com/play, and Ill tell you, its a really fast, easy way to get into gaming. The content is the driving force behind Game Pass growth, which is why Im so excited about our acquisition of ZeniMax, which brings some of the worlds most iconic, beloved games to the service. Awards on February 24, 2022,[20] and the Andrew Yoon Legend award at the New York Game Awards on January 17, 2023. Nadella: Thats right. CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company internally referred to the xCloud endeavor as . That built-in catalog is an extra value on top of all the new games available on the system that take advantage of its impressive technical specs. I had to learn to slow down when going into a turn. Its a big promotion for Spencer, described as the Xboss by Xbox fans. 28/04/2023 02:47:00 a. m. Se dice que Phil Spencer llam a una junta de emergencia para discutir el posible futuro de Microsoft sin la adquisicin de Activision. Phil Spencer (born January 12, 1968)[3] is an American business executive and the CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Microsoft also intends to leverage Activision Blizzard in its efforts to develop new metaverse platforms, a business venture that many companies are beginning to invest in heavily. I mean, the cloud and Azure have sort of fundamentally allowed us to truly put people at the center of gaming, enabling them to play the games in high fidelity, as you said, wherever, whenever they want on any device. And this holiday it was especially gratifying to see the response from fans and read the great reviews of our new first-party titles. Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 gave a good boost to the console's library following a somewhat sparse first year. Heres the thing when I think about it. The Xbox Series X impressed us with its zippy load times and gorgeous 4K graphics, and the entry-level $299 Xbox Series S. Spencer has been with Microsoft for 25 years, working in various departments. I didnt really understand how cars worked, Cole said. Find Ryan online at: A mid-generation refresh also helped to make the Xbox One hardware just as appealing if not more so than the PlayStation 4. Congrats to the team on 10 years and thanks to all the creators and players who've supported. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. We will have a webcast for investors and media at 6 a.m. PT to discuss the Activision Blizzard transaction and our plans as Microsoft Gaming. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand-in-hand with treating every person with dignity and respect. To get a deeper dive, I spoke to Cole as well as Turn 10 Studios' gameplay & accessibility producer Neha Chintala and head of Xbox Phil Spencer about bringing these features to life and why . Games like The Last of Us Part 1s 2022 remake and The Last of Us Part 2, every NetherRealm Studios title since 2013, and The Vale: Shadow of the Crown are examples of games that are accessible to blind/low vision individuals within a vast industry of iconic series and genres. The idea that they are a company of the past must have forced them to develop new products and tailor them to their customers preferences. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer makes his long-awaited return to Unlocked for an exclusive one-hour interview. You also see the power of the cloud when you look at the evolution of some of our first-party games, like Flight Simulator. Scripps School of Journalism in 2016. But before we move forward, why not take a look back at what brought us here in the first place? Were looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard. Im looking forward to how we continue to invest in Game Pass to add more content and bring the service to even more geographies as we make progress. Concerns regarding the systems look and design, as well as the $299 price tag, fell by the wayside with over 1 million Xbox consoles flying off shelves in the next three weeks. While the Xbox fanbase continued to grow with the addition of Xbox Live, it wasnt all sunshine and sales in the years to follow. It is capable of native 4K gaming, something no other game console can do on a regular basis, and the use of vapor cooling allowed the console to be even smaller than the Xbox One S. Despite the sales struggles of the Xbox One, Xbox fans have reason to be excited about the future. It's been clear for a while that Microsoft sees the future of gaming in subscriptions, streaming and services. Lets wrap up by talking about creators, which I know is a huge priority for you and the entire company. Despite the marketing teams belief that the abbreviated Xbox name wouldnt fly, the label went over well with focus groups, providing the company with one of the final elements it needed to pull back the curtain on its creation: A catchy name. Following Mattricks departure, the role was briefly filled by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, but soon after the company announced a major restructuring that split the Xbox division. Cloud gaming is truly a breakthrough experience. In May 2013, Microsoft finally unveiled what was next for the Xbox brand, and it didnt leave players particularly happy. Accessibility is not about competition. It exemplifies, at least for me, what uniquely we can do by bringing together the power of all of Microsoft tech stack, right, from Azure AI to Bing maps, and even spatial computing, which came together to create essentially literally a digital twin of the entire planet. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. According to Nadella, Spencer will continue to work with Yusuf Mehdi, chief marketing and strategy officer for Xbox; George Peckham, head of Xbox third-party relations; and Mike Angiulo, corporate vice president of hardware development for Xbox. I will be hosting a webcast with investors at 6 a.m. PT with Phil and Amy, as well as Bobby Kotick, the CEO of Activision Blizzard, to share more details on our big ambitions for gaming. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. You Are the Future of Gaming. Xbox head Phil Spencer recently got promoted to Microsoft's executive leadership team, in a big show of confidence for gaming. Watch the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny trailer for the upcoming Indiana Jones movie, opening in theaters on June 30, 2023.Harrison Ford returns as the legendary hero archaeologist in the highly anticipated fifth installment in the iconic Indiana Jones movie franchise. Per tradition, Microsoft had its presentation before Sony, and revealed a $500 price for its console, with Kinect bundled with every system. Activision Blizzard is one of the largest game publishers worldwide across console, PC and mobile, and its home to nearly 400 million monthly active players, along with iconic games including Call of Duty, Candy Crush, World of Warcraft and Diablo. There have been reports of a second, significantly less-powerful machine that will omit a disc drive and be offered at a reduced price. Game Tapes Raw: Xbox - Bill Gates/The Rock (01/06/2001), Project xCloud: Gaming with you at the center, Xboxs Earth Day controller is made from recycled water jugs and CDs, Former PS5 exclusive Ghostwire: Tokyo Comes to Xbox Game Pass in April. ), connects with its fans, pushes the boundary of entertainment and has embraced the power of the cloud in such interesting and impactful ways. Ryan is a diehard gamer and follower of the gaming industry, an avid filmgoer, and a passionate supporter of his alma mater, the University of Kansas. Phil Spencer is the new boss of all things Xbox, Microsoft confirms . Microsoft's Bethesda acquisition will bring exclusives like Starfield and Redfall, and the potential addition of all Activision Blizzard games would further bolster that list, but the console's real strength lies in third-party support. Thanks for being here, Satya. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. It also meant the writing was on the wall for the original Xbox. Spencer, previously operating under the lengthy "Executive Vice-President of Gaming at Microsoft" title (and more commonly referred to as the "Head of Xbox") is now officially CEO, Microsoft Gaming. Please join if you can. Related: Fortnite Is Taking Over Twitch (And The World) Xbox boss Phil Spencer announced the company's intentions to sit out the popular Battle Royale wave in response to an inquiry via Twitter.When asked if Microsoft had any plans to focus on a Battle Royale game as a first-party title for the Xbox One, Spencer very clearly denied any plans to do so. Please also refresh on our corporate social media guidelines. While Microsoft was been hit with criticism for the Xbox Series X's slow-growing exclusive lineup-- several highly anticipated titles like Bethesda's Starfieldand co-op shooter Redfall have been pushed to later in 2023 -- the company is still delivering one of the best deals in gaming: Xbox Game Pass. The updated Xbox One S shrank the system considerably, adding in HDR support and a 4K Blu-ray player, while the Xbox One X was the most powerful console in the world at the time of release. initiative, Microsoft recently announced that players would be able to access a cloud gaming service. All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards. Something went wrong. wholeheartedly think that if this year doesn't go well exclusive wise, the xbox brand as a whole will be more of an embarrassment than ever before, probably irreparably so. Nadella: Yeah, absolutely. Accessibility features for blind/low vision players need to offer as much information as possible for them to be able to play without any form of sighted assistance. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Phil Spencer takes over as head of Microsoft's Xboxdivision, Sign up for the "It's been a remarkable year for Xbox and I am honored to lead the team at this incredible time for Microsoft and the games industry.". / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. Mar 21. The game is being added to Xbox Game Pass. You had to go to the arcade. In the meantime, we know you will have a lot of questions. The Xbox Series X is a next-generation powerhouse that rivals gaming PCs, while the Xbox Series S is an affordable stopgap for those who are curious about trying new games. The Xbox One might not have the same selection of exclusives as the PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch, but the handful it does have are worth checking out. However, it comes with some extras that might make that price tag sound more reasonable. Phil Spencer shows that the console war is dumb. And whats really surprised us is that its transforming how our entire industry thinks about Xbox and how we can reach a wider audience. They have the power to bring us together, create empathy, and strengthen our social fabric. Phil Spencer habla del posible futuro de Xbox sin Activision. Later that year, production of the Xbox officially ceased, with the final tally of sold consoles sitting at around 24 million units. 03:23 - Source: CNN. Xbox Game Pass now boasts of over 25 million subscribers, a number that will likely only continue to rise as Microsoft begins adding Activision Blizzard games to the service. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also sent his own email to staff about todays announcements. For sighted individuals, this information is learned over time by trying different cars or courses. [16], In January 2022, along with Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard,[17] Spencer was promoted to the role of CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Gameplay and accessibility producer Neha Chintala, and senior sound designer Todd Helsley explain the challenges behind opening racing games to blind/low vision individuals. We are full speed ahead in our mission to bring players more ways to play their favorite games. Spencer joined Microsoft in 1988 as an intern and has worked in a number of technical roles, leading the development of Microsoft's first CD-ROM-based titles (such as Encarta), development manager for Microsoft Money, and general manager of Microsoft's online and offline consumer productivity products including Microsoft Works and Microsoft Picture It! And with Forza Motorsports Blind Driving Assists, Turn 10 Studios wants to change that expectation. The Xbox Series X ditches the slim design of the Xbox One S and Xbox One X for something far bulkier. The first set of reports surfaced on (of all places) LinkedIn, where several designers and developers added vague descriptions of a mysterious new project they were working on with Microsoft. There are really three, I think, areas or key areas where we believe we have incredible competitive advantage. They need to be considered in the mix. The same situation occurred with Bethesda's Deathloop, which initially launched on PS5 and PC in September 2021 and then came to Xbox Series X/S a year later. The conversation between Spencer and Nadella focused on the importance of gaming at Microsoft and in the world. Helsley notes finding the right noises took multiple attempts, as several trials werent distinguishable enough from the natural game audio. CNN's Richard Quest plays video games with the head of Xbox Phil Spencer who talks about the future of the company as they celebrate the console's 20th anniversary. With Stadia, a cloud-based gaming service, becoming incredibly popular with gamers, Microsoft had to step up so they could stay in the competition. [9][10][11][12], In late March 2014, Satya Nadella announced in a corporate e-mail that Spencer was to "lead the Xbox, Xbox Live, Groove Music and Movies & TV teams, and Microsoft Studios" as part of the Windows and Devices division. Spencer will report to Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the company's Operating Systems Group, which covers Windows, Windows Phone and the Xbox One operating system. For the first couple of decades, the only way you can play the game was to buy the game outright. Additional Crew: Conker: Live and Reloaded. It was nowhere near the sales totals of the PS2, which went on to sell over 153 million units, but the Xbox did outsell both Nintendos GameCube (which sold 21. million), and Segas Dreamcast (which sold just 10.6 million). The console represents a sizeable boost in power from Xbox One X, with 6DDR6 RAM, 12 TFLOPS of GPU power, an NVMe SSD, and support for 8K resolution. When it comes to first-party exclusives, the Series X is still growing. But at the same time, like, when you're fishing and you start to see the sunset, I'm like, hurry up catch your fish. This news was followed a month later by the debut of Xbox Music and Xbox Video, Microsofts new media services that not only replaced the existing services on the Xbox but also offered an attractive, Apple-style integration across all devices running Windows software. The systems lineup of exclusive games has been extremely limited, with Microsofts first-party development teams unable to compete with the much larger collection of Sony studios, and many of the Xbox Ones best games were also released on PC. would change course regarding online connection requirements, The best upcoming Xbox Series X games: 2023 and beyond, You cant share Xbox screenshots or videos directly to Twitter anymore, All Xbox One games with mouse and keyboard support, The best Xbox One games to play right now. Theyre expanding that economic opportunity, too. I got to get this thing onto the boat and head back to--. Phil Spencer: Im thrilled to be joined by Satya Nadella to talk about how Microsoft broadly can drive gaming forward. The company made nearly all of its first-party games cross-platform compatible, enabling friends on PC and Xbox One to play together and even allowing players to switch between the two platforms without losing progress. Phil Spencer is taking over as the head of Microsoft's Xbox branch, the company announced today. The Xbox 360 S hit shelves a few days later on June 18, 2010. The Gaming Leadership Team and I look forward to answering as many as we can at our next Monthly Gaming Update on Jan. 26. Gamereactor uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best browsing experience on our website. To start, Id like to thank everyone for all of the hard work and dedication that have built this business and this community. "Combining these teams will strengthen the connection between some of the world's most innovative creators and those building the Xbox itself," said Spencer in a statement on Xbox Wire. As a leadership team, we know how much exciting but difficult work we have ahead of us, so its crucial that we operate as a single, unified team. You will hear much more as we head into E3, but we are at the beginning of an incredible new chapter for Xbox and I cant wait for the days and years ahead, Spencer said. However, second place also led to a tremendous amount of innovation from Microsoft. Spencer said . You get a lot of cues from the games audio already like what surface youre driving on, what your cars RPM is, how fast youre going with the wind flying by you, and what we wanted to do was make sure the sounds that we were using to provide this extra information that the blind player needed to get around the track wouldnt conflict with those sounds..

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